indite

See also: Indite

English edit

Etymology 1 edit

Originally a variant of indict; from Middle English enditen, endyten, from Old French enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from in- +‎ dictare (“to declare”). Doublet of indict.

Alternative forms edit

endite (obsolete)

Pronunciation edit

(UK, US) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈdaɪt/
Audio (US) (file)
Homophone: indict
Rhymes: -aɪt

Verb edit

indite (third-person singular simple present indites, present participle inditing, simple past and past participle indited)

(transitive) To physically make (letters and words) on a writing surface; to inscribe.
(transitive) To write (something, especially a literary or artistic work); to compose.
- 1672, [Andrew Marvell], The Rehearsal Transpros’d: Or, Animadversions upon a Late Book, Entituled, A Preface, Shewing what Grounds there are of Fears and Jealousies of Popery., London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 4:
  From a VVriter of Books, our Author is already dvvindled to a Preface-monger, and from Prefaces I am confident he may in a ſhort time be improved to endite Tickets for the Bear-Garden.
- 1844, E. A. Poe, Marginalia:
  It is certain that the mere act of inditing tends, in a great degree, to the logicalisation of thought. Whenever, on account of its vagueness, I am dissatisfied with a conception of the brain, I resort forthwith to the pen, for the purpose of obtaining, through its aid, the necessary form, consequence, and precision.
- 1849, James Low, “A translation of the Keddah Annals termed Marong Mahawangsa”, in The Journal of the Indian archipelago and eastern Asia‎^[1], volume 3, Singapore: G. M. Frederick, page 94:
  Sulíman now directed one of his ministers to indite a letter in the Chinese language to be sent to the Emperor of China to inform him of all these proceedings of Girdá towards the Prince of Rúm, and he then asked the Prince if he had been escorted by any chief enjoying the confidence of the Rájá of Rúm.
To dictate (something); to prompt.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 45:1:
  My heart is inditing a good matter.
- a. 1717 (date written), Robert South, “(please specify the sermon number)”, in Five Additional Volumes of Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions. […], volumes (please specify |volume=VII to XI), London: […] Charles Bathurst, […], published 1744, →OCLC:
  Could a common grief have indited such expressions?
(obsolete) To ask or invite (someone).
- c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
  She will indite him to supper.
(obsolete) To indict (someone); to accuse; to censure.
- 1595, Edmunde Spenser [i.e., Edmund Spenser], “(please specify the sonnet number or title)”, in Amoretti and Epithalamion. […], London: […] [Peter Short] for William Ponsonby, →OCLC; reprinted in Amoretti and Epithalamion (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas […], 1927, →OCLC:
  the wonder that my wit cannot endite
- 1901 October 11, “District Reports”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record‎^[2], volume 4, number 16, page 483:
  Two cases of cattle-stealing were dealt with, in which three natives were indited, two males, and one female. The two men were found guilty […]